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Last Night in Brooklyn
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past
SPRING, 2007
At twenty-six, Alicia Canales Forten feels smothered by her future. She’s in a long-distance relationship, living at home with her mother’s beliefs, saving up for her wedding to a future doctor. But after Alicia ventures out one night in the neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, she finds herself lured by the siren song of youth and possibility that the striving crowd of creatives holds, and moves in.
No one embodies this milieu more than La Garza, a larger-than-life, up-and-coming fashion designer whose epic house parties fuel neighborhood lore. La Garza’s life, observed by Alicia from her apartment across the street, seems to hold the allure and fearlessness Alicia has never dared to imagine for herself.
But when Alicia’s wealthy banker cousin moves to the neighborhood, she finds herself increasingly drawn into both his and La Garza’s precarious lives.
Against the backdrop of a potentially life-changing presidential election and a looming once-in-a-generation fiscal crisis, Last Night in Brooklyn explores the dark compromise of the American Dream for people of color living, unknowingly, in the twilight of a cultural moment. It is a story about everything money can buy—and the destruction of what it can’t.
SPRING, 2007
At twenty-six, Alicia Canales Forten feels smothered by her future. She’s in a long-distance relationship, living at home with her mother’s beliefs, saving up for her wedding to a future doctor. But after Alicia ventures out one night in the neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, she finds herself lured by the siren song of youth and possibility that the striving crowd of creatives holds, and moves in.
No one embodies this milieu more than La Garza, a larger-than-life, up-and-coming fashion designer whose epic house parties fuel neighborhood lore. La Garza’s life, observed by Alicia from her apartment across the street, seems to hold the allure and fearlessness Alicia has never dared to imagine for herself.
But when Alicia’s wealthy banker cousin moves to the neighborhood, she finds herself increasingly drawn into both his and La Garza’s precarious lives.
Against the backdrop of a potentially life-changing presidential election and a looming once-in-a-generation fiscal crisis, Last Night in Brooklyn explores the dark compromise of the American Dream for people of color living, unknowingly, in the twilight of a cultural moment. It is a story about everything money can buy—and the destruction of what it can’t.
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 21, 2026
17010 people want to read
About the author
Xóchitl González
4 books2,829 followersI'm a native South Brooklynite, where I was raised by my maternal grandparents . A proud graduate of the New York City public school system, I studied performing arts at Edward R. Murrow high school before getting my B.A. in Fine Art and Art History at Brown University in 1999. Twenty years later, I decided to listen to the long whispered dream of writing. I attended The Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and then was accepted to the Iowa Writers' Workshop. I completed my MFA in May of 2021 at the tender age of 43. Before writing I worked as an entrepreneur, consultant, wedding planner, fund-raiser, tarot reader and writer of etiquette columns. I currently live between Brooklyn and Long Island with my dog Hectah Lavoe.
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Want to read
January 29, 2026if being nosy about my neighbors is wrong i don't wanna be right
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Putting aside my discomfort that a historical novel can be set in 2007, this is a fantastic meditation on a very particular moment in Brooklyn history. The neighborhood where the main character, Alicia, lives is Fort Greene. She finds joy and possibility in the all-night parties thrown by her neighbor La Garza. Neither Alicia nor her friends realize that the coolness of Fort Greene is going to upend the neighborhood. Before the construction of the Barclays Center, and right at the tipping point of Brooklyn becoming expensive, Alicia and her friends and family try to find their way in NYC. —Julia Rittenberg
Putting aside my discomfort that a historical novel can be set in 2007, this is a fantastic meditation on a very particular moment in Brooklyn history. The neighborhood where the main character, Alicia, lives is Fort Greene. She finds joy and possibility in the all-night parties thrown by her neighbor La Garza. Neither Alicia nor her friends realize that the coolness of Fort Greene is going to upend the neighborhood. Before the construction of the Barclays Center, and right at the tipping point of Brooklyn becoming expensive, Alicia and her friends and family try to find their way in NYC. —Julia Rittenberg
August 22, 2025
Here she goes again! Xochitl Gonzalez has a gift for writing about place and its evolution. I couldn't put this book down. From start to finish I was enchanted by the rich narration that made me feel like each of the characters was someone I knew in a past life. The point of view is reflective. Gonzalez captured that nostalgic feeling we all experience when looking back at a moment in time and seeing in hindsight how it irrevocably shaped our future. The discussions of class and gentrification were nuanced and complex in a way that mirrored things I've only felt and never been able to articulate. A masterpiece yet again.
December 8, 2025
Thank you to Flatiron Bookd for the ARC of Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez. This was a vivid and character-driven read. The author’s voice is sharp, modern, and emotionally rich, pulling you straight into the rhythm of Brooklyn life. The characters were easily the standout for me—complex, flawed, and full of depth in a way that made every interaction feel real. The flow felt a little choppy despite the fast clip of the book but overall well done in a way that is so fresh and modern. Gonzalez excels again.
Review of advance copy
Thank you Xochitl Gonzalez and Libro.fm for a wild drama-filled ride into the hopeful moments in 2007-2008 with the fascinating neighbors of Fort Green Brooklyn New York and for highlighting beautifully diverse Latine, including Puerto Rican, and more people of color and also highlighting the ugliness of gentrification!
https://www.xochitlgonzalez.com/about...
https://www.xochitlgonzalez.com/about...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐
This novel was a love letter to a NYC that no longer exists due to gentrification. It also brings back the time around my graduation from college, post 9/11, but pre 2008 recession.
The novel does a wonderful job of encapsulating the feelings of hope for the future that occurred around this time while telling a very personal story of the main character. It was so easy to feel lost in a proverbial sea being in your 20s in the mid 2000s and I think Gonzalez did a great job capturing that feeling.
I was so invested in the story, I finished this book in a single day.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
This novel was a love letter to a NYC that no longer exists due to gentrification. It also brings back the time around my graduation from college, post 9/11, but pre 2008 recession.
The novel does a wonderful job of encapsulating the feelings of hope for the future that occurred around this time while telling a very personal story of the main character. It was so easy to feel lost in a proverbial sea being in your 20s in the mid 2000s and I think Gonzalez did a great job capturing that feeling.
I was so invested in the story, I finished this book in a single day.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
July 19, 2025I like Xóchitl González as a writer. Her prior books
and
I found compelling.
I always like reading books set in Brooklyn, NY as I have been there so many times. Looking forward to this new book coming out next year, April 7, 2026.
and
I found compelling. I always like reading books set in Brooklyn, NY as I have been there so many times. Looking forward to this new book coming out next year, April 7, 2026.
January 21, 2026
I was v excited for this audiobook after the awesome Anita de Monte Laughs Last. This is a nostalgic look back at 9/11 era NY, specifically Brooklyn as gentrification was really taking off. (How do I know I'm not a New Yorker? My main association with this time is Miranda moving to Brooklyn on Sex and the City.) That's the overarching theme, but most of the book focuses on the narrator and her relationships, specifically with a Brooklyn fashion designer who gets involved with her family. I liked it - it's telling a perspective that I appreciate as someone from another high cost of living area - but I wouldn't say it's as impactful as Anita de Monte.
The narrator was pretty good and felt authentic in the role, but was lacking a little in fluidity. It sounded like someone reading a book, rather than narrating their own story conversationally. Great on tone, not so much on delivery.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
The narrator was pretty good and felt authentic in the role, but was lacking a little in fluidity. It sounded like someone reading a book, rather than narrating their own story conversationally. Great on tone, not so much on delivery.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
January 18, 2026
Book Report: Last Night in Brooklyn by Xóchitl Gónzalez
Alicia is 26 and standing at the edge of a life that already feels decided…living at home…planning a wedding…following the safe path laid out for her. But one night in Fort Greene changes everything. Pulled into a magnetic circle of creatives…excess and ambition…she becomes fascinated by the life unfolding across the street…especially La Garza…a bold…intoxicating fashion designer who seems to embody everything Alicia has never dared to want. As money…desire and identity collide Alicia is forced to confront what the American Dream really costs and who it leaves behind.
This is Xóchitl González’s third novel and somehow she keeps raising the bar. I loved Olga Dies Dreaming…was blown away by Anita de Monte Laughs Last and Last Night in Brooklyn completely floored me. In under 256 pages…she weaves together class…culture…ambition and longing with such precision…all through unforgettable voices and a vividly drawn Brooklyn on the brink of change. I recommend giving this one a few extra pages to really sit with what’s quietly unfolding. Every one of her books has been a five-star read for me, and I’m already counting down to whatever she writes next.
Thank you Flatiron Books || Macmillan Audio for the ARC
Releases 4/21
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Alicia is 26 and standing at the edge of a life that already feels decided…living at home…planning a wedding…following the safe path laid out for her. But one night in Fort Greene changes everything. Pulled into a magnetic circle of creatives…excess and ambition…she becomes fascinated by the life unfolding across the street…especially La Garza…a bold…intoxicating fashion designer who seems to embody everything Alicia has never dared to want. As money…desire and identity collide Alicia is forced to confront what the American Dream really costs and who it leaves behind.
This is Xóchitl González’s third novel and somehow she keeps raising the bar. I loved Olga Dies Dreaming…was blown away by Anita de Monte Laughs Last and Last Night in Brooklyn completely floored me. In under 256 pages…she weaves together class…culture…ambition and longing with such precision…all through unforgettable voices and a vividly drawn Brooklyn on the brink of change. I recommend giving this one a few extra pages to really sit with what’s quietly unfolding. Every one of her books has been a five-star read for me, and I’m already counting down to whatever she writes next.
Thank you Flatiron Books || Macmillan Audio for the ARC
Releases 4/21
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Read
January 14, 2026Magnetic and absolutely riveting.
December 2, 2025
This is the book I needed to read at 26.
I am a longtime fan of Xochitl’s writing but this one hit it out of the park. It’s a relatively simpler novel, compared to Olga and Anita? But nevertheless, absolutely STELLAR💫
I can’t explain how well she captured the complicates emotional truth of friendship and admiration between young women. What it is like to feel free on an evening out on the dance floor (nothing like it). Both the driving energy and recklesss paralysis that comes with craving that release and attention. What it is like to live vicariously through the last precipice of hope before everything changes, something that stirred some intense nostalgia and a true shadow of what I am witnessing in my own hometown today. There is just so much to talk about. It is truly a phenomenon of a book that captures Brooklyn at its finest and its coolest - perhaps the best, last, classic New York Novel.
I am a longtime fan of Xochitl’s writing but this one hit it out of the park. It’s a relatively simpler novel, compared to Olga and Anita? But nevertheless, absolutely STELLAR💫
I can’t explain how well she captured the complicates emotional truth of friendship and admiration between young women. What it is like to feel free on an evening out on the dance floor (nothing like it). Both the driving energy and recklesss paralysis that comes with craving that release and attention. What it is like to live vicariously through the last precipice of hope before everything changes, something that stirred some intense nostalgia and a true shadow of what I am witnessing in my own hometown today. There is just so much to talk about. It is truly a phenomenon of a book that captures Brooklyn at its finest and its coolest - perhaps the best, last, classic New York Novel.
March 7, 2026
Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez is set in early 2000s Fort Greene, Brooklyn and follows Alicia Canales Forten, a young woman who becomes entangled in the glamorous yet precarious world of her neighbor, a fashion designer known as La Garza. Against the backdrop of a presidential election and a looming financial crisis, the novel explores gentrification, ambition, the American Dream, and the difficult compromises people of color sometimes face while trying to build a life.
I listened to the audiobook, and one of the highlights for me was the narrator. I appreciated that the production chose a Latina narrator whose voice felt authentic to the character and the setting. As someone familiar with New York culture, I loved hearing the cadence and rhythm of a true New Yorker in the narration. The way Spanish and English were naturally blended throughout the dialogue also felt very real—what many of us would recognize as this is apart of daily dialogue among each other.
Representation was easily my favorite part of this book. Brooklyn itself felt present in the story, and I loved seeing a Hispanic family at the center of the narrative. I also appreciated how the story reflected the close relationship between Black and Puerto Rican communities in New York—something that often isn’t fully understood outside of the city. Seeing those dynamics represented meant a lot to me.
Because of that, I want to especially thank the publisher for continuing to publish authors of Hispanic descent. Representation in publishing still has a long way to go, and it is meaningful to see Latin voices and stories given space.
Xochitl Gonzalez is clearly a talented writer. Her prose is thoughtful and observant, and the themes she explores—class, identity, and belonging—are compelling.
Where the novel didn’t fully work for me was in its overall direction. I sometimes struggled to understand what kind of story it ultimately wanted to be. Alicia is 26, so it doesn’t quite read as a traditional coming-of-age story, yet I also didn’t feel a strong narrative arc guiding her journey. At times I found myself wanting a clearer sense of purpose or progression for the character and the plot.
Overall, while the story didn’t completely come together for me, I still appreciated the cultural authenticity, the strong narration, and the opportunity to read a work by a Latina author. I’m always glad to see more Latin voices in publishing, and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an advanced listening copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I listened to the audiobook, and one of the highlights for me was the narrator. I appreciated that the production chose a Latina narrator whose voice felt authentic to the character and the setting. As someone familiar with New York culture, I loved hearing the cadence and rhythm of a true New Yorker in the narration. The way Spanish and English were naturally blended throughout the dialogue also felt very real—what many of us would recognize as this is apart of daily dialogue among each other.
Representation was easily my favorite part of this book. Brooklyn itself felt present in the story, and I loved seeing a Hispanic family at the center of the narrative. I also appreciated how the story reflected the close relationship between Black and Puerto Rican communities in New York—something that often isn’t fully understood outside of the city. Seeing those dynamics represented meant a lot to me.
Because of that, I want to especially thank the publisher for continuing to publish authors of Hispanic descent. Representation in publishing still has a long way to go, and it is meaningful to see Latin voices and stories given space.
Xochitl Gonzalez is clearly a talented writer. Her prose is thoughtful and observant, and the themes she explores—class, identity, and belonging—are compelling.
Where the novel didn’t fully work for me was in its overall direction. I sometimes struggled to understand what kind of story it ultimately wanted to be. Alicia is 26, so it doesn’t quite read as a traditional coming-of-age story, yet I also didn’t feel a strong narrative arc guiding her journey. At times I found myself wanting a clearer sense of purpose or progression for the character and the plot.
Overall, while the story didn’t completely come together for me, I still appreciated the cultural authenticity, the strong narration, and the opportunity to read a work by a Latina author. I’m always glad to see more Latin voices in publishing, and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an advanced listening copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2026
Xochitl Gonzalez is an author I now consider a must-read. The way the writing captivates you and transports you to early 2000s Brooklyn, full of life, culture, and dazzling nights out where you can't have enough fun with your friends. Told from the FMC point of view, Alicia paints a picture of how growing up in affluence isn't all it's cracked up to be from the outside looking in. How little girls grow up aspiring to be wives and their husbands' keepers. Also, how life has so much more to offer than that! The ending was such a shock, but it also felt like the inevitable end to such a dramatic lifestyle. I couldn't help but shed a few tears for La Garza's little brother.
Elizabeth Rodriguez couldn't be more perfect for this role as narrator. Her eloquence really set the audiobook up for how impactful Xochitl's writing is.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.
Elizabeth Rodriguez couldn't be more perfect for this role as narrator. Her eloquence really set the audiobook up for how impactful Xochitl's writing is.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2026
A slice of life from post 9/11 Brooklyn before gentrification took hold. Alicia is drifting along in an engagement that she isn’t all that excited about as she tries to figure out who she is supposed to be. After becoming friends with a local celebrity she gets roped into more drama than she is prepared for but she is also forced to grow and decide the direction she wants to take in life. Every character is nuanced and complicated in a way that real people are but isn’t always depicted in books. There are clear messages about race and class and our patriarchal society but it never feels heavy handed. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I absolutely love her style. The narrator for the audiobook was also perfection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio of this book.
January 26, 2026
This novel is about a young woman unsure of her path forward, set in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn in the early 2000s. Alicia was always told to go after and grab onto the best that life has to offer, so she is holding on tight to her fiancé, a med student studying upstate, despite her body (and soul) going out with her Brooklyn friends every night. Her wealthy cousin just bought a brownstone, and there are parties and happenings everywhere. She falls under the spell of a Brooklyn-based, self-taught fashion designer who also has designs on her cousin. Complications ensue, leading Alicia to question everything. The characters and story are absorbing, and the audiobook narration is excellent.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #LastNightinBrooklyn for review purposes. Publication date: 21 April 2026.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #LastNightinBrooklyn for review purposes. Publication date: 21 April 2026.
December 6, 2025
I won this in a giveaway I tried reading but I unfortunately couldn't get into it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night In Brooklyn is an elegiac and brilliant novel about the gentrification of Brooklyn in the early aughts. Through the eyes of Alicia Canales Forten, we experience an eclectic group of young, 20s-ish Brooklynites in the early 2000s. They fall in love, they party, and they live their lives, ever true to their borough. They are all young and on the way up, but, with progress comes change, and not always for the better.
Alicia lives across the street from La Garza, a hot new designer, who also happens to be a dyed-in-the-wool native Brooklynite. Her heritage is important to her, and it informs how she lives her life. But, glamorous as she is, La Garza has had a difficult life, one that involves a well-heeled financier who also happens to be Alicia's cousin. Alicia, you see, is the daughter of a struggling Latina mother, and her ex-husband, a scion of a wealthy Dominican family. Alicia is familiar with both worlds, having spent summers with her father's family on the Cape, so she is the literal embodiment of the struggle between the heart and soul of Brooklyn and those who wish to exploit it.
Gonzalez's writing is hypnotic, fully evoking a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Her characterization is flawless and, in theme, Last Night In Brooklyn stirs comparisons to The Great Gatsby, with its commentary on wealth, class, and tragedy. Last Night In Brooklyn is a brilliant novel, and is sure to be a contender for the Best of 2026 lists.
Alicia lives across the street from La Garza, a hot new designer, who also happens to be a dyed-in-the-wool native Brooklynite. Her heritage is important to her, and it informs how she lives her life. But, glamorous as she is, La Garza has had a difficult life, one that involves a well-heeled financier who also happens to be Alicia's cousin. Alicia, you see, is the daughter of a struggling Latina mother, and her ex-husband, a scion of a wealthy Dominican family. Alicia is familiar with both worlds, having spent summers with her father's family on the Cape, so she is the literal embodiment of the struggle between the heart and soul of Brooklyn and those who wish to exploit it.
Gonzalez's writing is hypnotic, fully evoking a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Her characterization is flawless and, in theme, Last Night In Brooklyn stirs comparisons to The Great Gatsby, with its commentary on wealth, class, and tragedy. Last Night In Brooklyn is a brilliant novel, and is sure to be a contender for the Best of 2026 lists.
February 10, 2026
I have loved Xochitl's last novels and was very excited to have this approved as an audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars
I'm a FAN of this author. I loved _Olga Dies Dreaming_, and I really enjoyed _Anita_, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this audiobook. While I did enjoy the read, the degree to which I've REALLY enjoyed Gonzalez's previous efforts made this feel a little underwhelming.
Alicia is extremely relatable when readers first meet her. She's in her mid-20s and feeling really caught between the disappointments of her romantic relationship and the expectations that she and others have about how she's going to skyrocket out of her circumstances in favor of some sort of near magical upgrade. When Alicia reconnects with friends and family members from her past in new ways, she begins to immediately wonder about her choices and future possibilities.
Gonzalez does two things incredibly well here. First, Alicia is giving quarter-life realizations in big, obvious, extremely genuine ways. I felt like in some ways I was looking into images of my own life at that point. More seasoned readers may have similar thoughts about the follies of these characters' youths (and their own!) and feel grateful for what they've learned and for how effectively Gonzalez portrays this stage of life. Another clear success? The atmospheric nature of the novel overall. Gonzalez writes exceptionally, not just in her novels but also in nonfiction, about the importance of place, and she makes the location a character. The allure of Alicia's life is really about Brooklyn more so than her immediate circumstances, and anyone who lives in or has spent significant time in a place like this will also appreciate the soul crushing nature of having to consider leaving a place that made you and is a fundamental part of you.
Now, all of these love notes aside, this book just feels too pedestrian. The extremely developed characters, social issues, and themes I'm used to in Gonzalez's work are just not working on the level I anticipated. It's good but not the extremely memorable, moving missive I eagerly anticipated.
Two huge wins followed by a strong but not earth shattering book? I still feel very lucky to have gotten to read this and am already waiting eagerly for what this writer will create next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm a FAN of this author. I loved _Olga Dies Dreaming_, and I really enjoyed _Anita_, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this audiobook. While I did enjoy the read, the degree to which I've REALLY enjoyed Gonzalez's previous efforts made this feel a little underwhelming.
Alicia is extremely relatable when readers first meet her. She's in her mid-20s and feeling really caught between the disappointments of her romantic relationship and the expectations that she and others have about how she's going to skyrocket out of her circumstances in favor of some sort of near magical upgrade. When Alicia reconnects with friends and family members from her past in new ways, she begins to immediately wonder about her choices and future possibilities.
Gonzalez does two things incredibly well here. First, Alicia is giving quarter-life realizations in big, obvious, extremely genuine ways. I felt like in some ways I was looking into images of my own life at that point. More seasoned readers may have similar thoughts about the follies of these characters' youths (and their own!) and feel grateful for what they've learned and for how effectively Gonzalez portrays this stage of life. Another clear success? The atmospheric nature of the novel overall. Gonzalez writes exceptionally, not just in her novels but also in nonfiction, about the importance of place, and she makes the location a character. The allure of Alicia's life is really about Brooklyn more so than her immediate circumstances, and anyone who lives in or has spent significant time in a place like this will also appreciate the soul crushing nature of having to consider leaving a place that made you and is a fundamental part of you.
Now, all of these love notes aside, this book just feels too pedestrian. The extremely developed characters, social issues, and themes I'm used to in Gonzalez's work are just not working on the level I anticipated. It's good but not the extremely memorable, moving missive I eagerly anticipated.
Two huge wins followed by a strong but not earth shattering book? I still feel very lucky to have gotten to read this and am already waiting eagerly for what this writer will create next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
General Thoughts:
This book had so many things going for it. I admit when I read the synopsis I wasn't 100% sure this was something I was going to enjoy. Which makes the fact that it was one of the best reads I've read this month even the more surprising. I don't think the synopsis does a good job of explaining just how emotionally charged, messy, and layered this book is. But I'm here to tell you it was riveting.
I read this book in one day. I know it's not a very long book but honestly, I felt like I've been reading for an hour by the time I finished. It went by so quickly, the pacing was absolutely perfect for me and there was always something happening for the storyline. The characters all had an interwoven story that was interesting and fresh.
The culture and community of Brooklyn was definitely felt throughout the novel. I myself have never been to Brooklyn, but I felt like a true Brooklynite reading this story and being immersed in the culture and community. The feeling of the streets and family were felt.
Is this book full of Messi, Family and friend drama?? Absolutely it is and it was of the best kind. I could not take my eyes from the page for any reason.
Really enjoyed this and really happy that it's my first five star read of the year.
Things to Love:
* Sense of community
* Love song to Brooklyn
* Complex and flawed characters
* Messy premise
Things to Question:
* Nothing. Really enjoyed this one
Book Stats:
📖: 256 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Format: Physical ARC
Series: STANDALONE
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 7 hours 37 minutes
🎤: Elizabeth Rodriguez
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Single POV/Timeline
Was the narration good??
* I enjoyed the narration for this one. A couple of the voices used for some of the characters were a little hard to get used to it first but eventually they blended into the story and felt unnatural. Overall, really happy with the audiobook experience.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher and a gifted audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review
This book had so many things going for it. I admit when I read the synopsis I wasn't 100% sure this was something I was going to enjoy. Which makes the fact that it was one of the best reads I've read this month even the more surprising. I don't think the synopsis does a good job of explaining just how emotionally charged, messy, and layered this book is. But I'm here to tell you it was riveting.
I read this book in one day. I know it's not a very long book but honestly, I felt like I've been reading for an hour by the time I finished. It went by so quickly, the pacing was absolutely perfect for me and there was always something happening for the storyline. The characters all had an interwoven story that was interesting and fresh.
The culture and community of Brooklyn was definitely felt throughout the novel. I myself have never been to Brooklyn, but I felt like a true Brooklynite reading this story and being immersed in the culture and community. The feeling of the streets and family were felt.
Is this book full of Messi, Family and friend drama?? Absolutely it is and it was of the best kind. I could not take my eyes from the page for any reason.
Really enjoyed this and really happy that it's my first five star read of the year.
Things to Love:
* Sense of community
* Love song to Brooklyn
* Complex and flawed characters
* Messy premise
Things to Question:
* Nothing. Really enjoyed this one
Book Stats:
📖: 256 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Format: Physical ARC
Series: STANDALONE
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 7 hours 37 minutes
🎤: Elizabeth Rodriguez
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Single POV/Timeline
Was the narration good??
* I enjoyed the narration for this one. A couple of the voices used for some of the characters were a little hard to get used to it first but eventually they blended into the story and felt unnatural. Overall, really happy with the audiobook experience.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher and a gifted audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For anyone who has read at least 1 previous book by this author, Last Night in Brooklyn will feel no different.
We follow a young female main character, Alicia, who is torn between what is expected from her and what she really wants for her in life. There are also different characters who enter Alicia's life and they'll give her different perspectives, ideas, desires, and healing.
Brooklyn itself works as a character of its own, so we, the readers, witness what happens not only to Alicia's growth as a person, but also to the changes the borough is going through.
I loved Gonzalez's debut, and even though I didn't particularly love her sophomore novel, I was very excited for her third and new novel.
This one reminds me a little of Olga Dies Dreaming...however, I couldn't connect to any of the characters on Last Night in Brooklyn the way I did with Olga.
I do not think, at all, that there is anything essentially wrong with this book. I personally didn't relate to Alicia as a character or anyone else, as a matter of fact.. Sure, I empathise with her. Whoever is or was once a 20-something year old, with a heavy baggage of disappointments on their back, will understand where Alicia is coming from. She can be easily relatable to.
It just didn't clique with me. La Garza is a character who, at first, got me intrigued, but very quickly ceased to do that.
It's just me. Maybe in this particular case this book is not for me.
I'm sure other readers will enjoy this novel much more than I did. If you have read books by this author before and enjoyed, consider picking this one up, too.
I listened to the audiobook format and it is really well done. The single narrator does a great job by voicing different characters and using a wide range of tones. I do recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for allowing me to listen to an advanced free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
We follow a young female main character, Alicia, who is torn between what is expected from her and what she really wants for her in life. There are also different characters who enter Alicia's life and they'll give her different perspectives, ideas, desires, and healing.
Brooklyn itself works as a character of its own, so we, the readers, witness what happens not only to Alicia's growth as a person, but also to the changes the borough is going through.
I loved Gonzalez's debut, and even though I didn't particularly love her sophomore novel, I was very excited for her third and new novel.
This one reminds me a little of Olga Dies Dreaming...however, I couldn't connect to any of the characters on Last Night in Brooklyn the way I did with Olga.
I do not think, at all, that there is anything essentially wrong with this book. I personally didn't relate to Alicia as a character or anyone else, as a matter of fact.. Sure, I empathise with her. Whoever is or was once a 20-something year old, with a heavy baggage of disappointments on their back, will understand where Alicia is coming from. She can be easily relatable to.
It just didn't clique with me. La Garza is a character who, at first, got me intrigued, but very quickly ceased to do that.
It's just me. Maybe in this particular case this book is not for me.
I'm sure other readers will enjoy this novel much more than I did. If you have read books by this author before and enjoyed, consider picking this one up, too.
I listened to the audiobook format and it is really well done. The single narrator does a great job by voicing different characters and using a wide range of tones. I do recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for allowing me to listen to an advanced free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can't wait!! I just received an audio ARC from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio. SO EXCITED!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audioARC of Last Night in Brooklyn. I was so excited to get my hands on this audiobook. I LOVED Xochitl Gonzalez two previous books and was salivating at the thought of this one. Overall, this was a really enjoyable audiobook experience. The narrator was fantastic and her Brooklyn accents and Boriqua/Spanish accents added to the experience.
We experience a coming of age summer for Alicia Canales. She is living her life upholding everyone’s expectations, especially her mother’s. She is engaged to the Med Student, she graduated from Yale, and she has summered on Martha’s Vineyard with her father’s family. Alicia knows how to navigate the wealthy elite circles, while still drinking bodega coffee and what it was to grow up in Brooklyn. Alicia’s reflection of the summer of 2007 is really a reflection of her maturation into her adult self and learning who she is without seeing herself in the reflection of a man or money. It is Alicia coming into her independent life and her womanhood without the influence of the money and entitlement that is gentrifying Brooklyn and the community she loves (her cousin Devin), as well as without the influence of a future doctor husband (her Mother's expectations) or a toxic love that “leaves you in ashes” (Mateo). She was sucked into the absolutely legendary world of La Garza under what she later discovers were false pretenses, though this relationship and loss brought her a lot of clarity and discovery. La Garza is such a larger than life figure. She is all consuming and Alicia is able to reflect on her own life through her relationship with her.
As is her style, Gonzalez story telling has many layers. This story is no different. Hearing Alicia tell her story through her summer experience in La Garza’s world was such a unique way of telling a story of growth and self discovery. I really enjoyed this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audioARC of Last Night in Brooklyn. I was so excited to get my hands on this audiobook. I LOVED Xochitl Gonzalez two previous books and was salivating at the thought of this one. Overall, this was a really enjoyable audiobook experience. The narrator was fantastic and her Brooklyn accents and Boriqua/Spanish accents added to the experience.
We experience a coming of age summer for Alicia Canales. She is living her life upholding everyone’s expectations, especially her mother’s. She is engaged to the Med Student, she graduated from Yale, and she has summered on Martha’s Vineyard with her father’s family. Alicia knows how to navigate the wealthy elite circles, while still drinking bodega coffee and what it was to grow up in Brooklyn. Alicia’s reflection of the summer of 2007 is really a reflection of her maturation into her adult self and learning who she is without seeing herself in the reflection of a man or money. It is Alicia coming into her independent life and her womanhood without the influence of the money and entitlement that is gentrifying Brooklyn and the community she loves (her cousin Devin), as well as without the influence of a future doctor husband (her Mother's expectations) or a toxic love that “leaves you in ashes” (Mateo). She was sucked into the absolutely legendary world of La Garza under what she later discovers were false pretenses, though this relationship and loss brought her a lot of clarity and discovery. La Garza is such a larger than life figure. She is all consuming and Alicia is able to reflect on her own life through her relationship with her.
As is her style, Gonzalez story telling has many layers. This story is no different. Hearing Alicia tell her story through her summer experience in La Garza’s world was such a unique way of telling a story of growth and self discovery. I really enjoyed this story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook
Alicia's life feels stuck in neutral: she's in a job she likes well enough, but doesn't love; she's in a long distance relationship with her fiance, and she's barely scraping together enough money to pay her part of the rent. When she's invited to one of the infamous parties for her neighbor "La Garza" her life suddenly kicks into high gear. La Garza, an up-and-coming fashion designer, sucks Alicia into her orbit, which includes reconnecting with Alicia's cousin. Set against the intersection of a precarious financial crisis and life-altering presidential election, Alicia's summer with La Garza will make her question everything she thought about herself and her relationships.
If you ever wondered what an updated gender bent GREAT GATSBY, set in the early aughts, with a cast of Black and brown New Yorkers, would look like, this is the book for you. Gonzalez infuses her book with the same sense of welcoming readers deep into the world of the narrator, the way she's done with her two previous books. If you've read GATSBY and remember the story beats, it's fun to see the places where the author stayed fairly true to the original story and the places she diverged. Like Nick Carraway, Alicia's story happens on the fringes of the bigger than life La Garza and the wealthy lives of her cousin and his wife. Unlike Nick, Alicia has more substance and drive, as a character. The end of the book felt a little soft, but overall this was a great read filled with the time capsule of 2007 pop culture and strong writing.
Last Night in Brooklyn is out April 21, 2026
Alicia's life feels stuck in neutral: she's in a job she likes well enough, but doesn't love; she's in a long distance relationship with her fiance, and she's barely scraping together enough money to pay her part of the rent. When she's invited to one of the infamous parties for her neighbor "La Garza" her life suddenly kicks into high gear. La Garza, an up-and-coming fashion designer, sucks Alicia into her orbit, which includes reconnecting with Alicia's cousin. Set against the intersection of a precarious financial crisis and life-altering presidential election, Alicia's summer with La Garza will make her question everything she thought about herself and her relationships.
If you ever wondered what an updated gender bent GREAT GATSBY, set in the early aughts, with a cast of Black and brown New Yorkers, would look like, this is the book for you. Gonzalez infuses her book with the same sense of welcoming readers deep into the world of the narrator, the way she's done with her two previous books. If you've read GATSBY and remember the story beats, it's fun to see the places where the author stayed fairly true to the original story and the places she diverged. Like Nick Carraway, Alicia's story happens on the fringes of the bigger than life La Garza and the wealthy lives of her cousin and his wife. Unlike Nick, Alicia has more substance and drive, as a character. The end of the book felt a little soft, but overall this was a great read filled with the time capsule of 2007 pop culture and strong writing.
Last Night in Brooklyn is out April 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
2.5 stars. If I hadn't enjoyed Xóchitl González's previous books so much I don't think I would have finished this. It falls into a trap I've seen before, a book that is trying to help you see the magic of a time and a place. It uses a particularly interesting and magnetic person as the center of the story, someone that exemplifies this time and this place. I have never actually seen this work. There is always something about the magnetism that is missing. As soon as you start trying to make it clear that this was a special time and a special place and you say it that way, it isn't magical. González never really tries to let us see that specialness through the story, through the narrative, through the characters' eyes. It is all tell not show, and you can tell me how special something is as long as you want but it isn't the same as showing me.
What González does best is to get her theme across, it's one of her talents. Showing us why and how Brooklyn changed in the late 00's, how people of color who had achieved success were complicit, how those who came up in Brooklyn let it become something else. Structurally, I really get what she was going for and the story of La Garza exemplifies so much of this.
But the remove of seeing it through Alicia's eyes never really worked for me. Alicia is not much of a character. Most of what happens is on the periphery of her life, so her perspective doesn't add much. And I didn't really care that much about Alicia's own choices. I needed a richer layer here. Her other books have had multiple narratives and I could really feel the lack of it in this one, adding another layer of story could have fleshed this out a lot more.
What González does best is to get her theme across, it's one of her talents. Showing us why and how Brooklyn changed in the late 00's, how people of color who had achieved success were complicit, how those who came up in Brooklyn let it become something else. Structurally, I really get what she was going for and the story of La Garza exemplifies so much of this.
But the remove of seeing it through Alicia's eyes never really worked for me. Alicia is not much of a character. Most of what happens is on the periphery of her life, so her perspective doesn't add much. And I didn't really care that much about Alicia's own choices. I needed a richer layer here. Her other books have had multiple narratives and I could really feel the lack of it in this one, adding another layer of story could have fleshed this out a lot more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
{thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this audiobook}
Last Night in Brooklyn is a love letter to the Brooklyn of the early 200s and I am so here for it. I had no idea this book was meant to be a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby, but I definitely kept thinking of Gatsby while reading it and then later learned that's exactly what it is. But don't worry; you don't have to know or even like The Great Gatsby to love Last Night in Brooklyn- this book definitely stands on its own.
Alicia Canales Forten is a 26-year-old living in Brooklyn in 2007, right before the financial crisis and during a wave of gentrification. Like many women her age, she's feeling a little unsure in her life- she has a fine job that she doesn't love, a long-distance relationship she feels a bit stuck in, and is still living at home. When she finally meets up-and-coming fashion designer La Garza (who she's been observing through her apartment window for some time), she's introduced to a life that feels very different from the one she's been living.
It’s a novel about class, identity, ambition, and the choices many of us make when we’re young adults trying to figure out who we want to be in the world. I also really appreciated the novel's look at gentrification in a way that didn't feel preachy, but instead was very realistic.
González always has incredible narrators for her audiobooks and she does it again for Last Night in Brooklyn. I'm sure this book is great in physical form, but I will likely always choose to listen to her novels since her narrators truly bring them to life.
I recommend this one!
Last Night in Brooklyn is a love letter to the Brooklyn of the early 200s and I am so here for it. I had no idea this book was meant to be a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby, but I definitely kept thinking of Gatsby while reading it and then later learned that's exactly what it is. But don't worry; you don't have to know or even like The Great Gatsby to love Last Night in Brooklyn- this book definitely stands on its own.
Alicia Canales Forten is a 26-year-old living in Brooklyn in 2007, right before the financial crisis and during a wave of gentrification. Like many women her age, she's feeling a little unsure in her life- she has a fine job that she doesn't love, a long-distance relationship she feels a bit stuck in, and is still living at home. When she finally meets up-and-coming fashion designer La Garza (who she's been observing through her apartment window for some time), she's introduced to a life that feels very different from the one she's been living.
It’s a novel about class, identity, ambition, and the choices many of us make when we’re young adults trying to figure out who we want to be in the world. I also really appreciated the novel's look at gentrification in a way that didn't feel preachy, but instead was very realistic.
González always has incredible narrators for her audiobooks and she does it again for Last Night in Brooklyn. I'm sure this book is great in physical form, but I will likely always choose to listen to her novels since her narrators truly bring them to life.
I recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Netgalley for an ALC of Last Night in Brooklyn by one of my absolute favorite authors, Xóchitl González.
Giving this book a 3-star rating really pains me. It was so difficult to read it and not compare it to Xóchitl's first two novels that made me fall in love with her writing and storytelling. Olga Dies Dreaming and Anita de Monte Laughs Last were such juggernauts that Last Night in Brooklyn just fell a little flat for me.
Here, we have our MC Alicia who acts both narrator and catalyst for events throughout the novel - set during the 2006 presidential election cycle - but she's not the real star of the show. While her friend Garza's personality shines on every level, the real undercurrent of the story are the socioeconomic shifts happening around the characters in their city, marked by commentary on the new white neighbors, or the new BK Nets arena, and beloved-dive-bars-turned-upscale-restaurants that come off as very "us vs. them" (rightly or wrongly.) I was also slightly put off by the fact that the MC's love interest shares the same name as Olga's love interest, but with the exact opposite personality. I also felt like Alicia's long-distance engagement arc could have been entirely eliminated and we wouldn't have missed it.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing and, but felt it really missed the magic and the passion that was so evident in her two previous hits.
Giving this book a 3-star rating really pains me. It was so difficult to read it and not compare it to Xóchitl's first two novels that made me fall in love with her writing and storytelling. Olga Dies Dreaming and Anita de Monte Laughs Last were such juggernauts that Last Night in Brooklyn just fell a little flat for me.
Here, we have our MC Alicia who acts both narrator and catalyst for events throughout the novel - set during the 2006 presidential election cycle - but she's not the real star of the show. While her friend Garza's personality shines on every level, the real undercurrent of the story are the socioeconomic shifts happening around the characters in their city, marked by commentary on the new white neighbors, or the new BK Nets arena, and beloved-dive-bars-turned-upscale-restaurants that come off as very "us vs. them" (rightly or wrongly.) I was also slightly put off by the fact that the MC's love interest shares the same name as Olga's love interest, but with the exact opposite personality. I also felt like Alicia's long-distance engagement arc could have been entirely eliminated and we wouldn't have missed it.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing and, but felt it really missed the magic and the passion that was so evident in her two previous hits.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this ARC.
Set in the spring of 2007, this novel follows a young woman navigating early adulthood while becoming entangled in the drama and unraveling of her glamorous Brooklyn neighbor and their inner circle. The premise immediately intrigued me, especially given González’s sharp observational voice.
Unfortunately, while the setup was compelling, the execution didn’t fully land for me. I struggled to connect with the characters, who often felt emotionally distant. Though there were flashes of complexity in their motivations and relationships, I never felt fully invested in their journeys.
The narrative also felt somewhat meandering. At times, it seemed unclear what the central arc was building toward, and the episodic structure made it difficult to sustain momentum. I found myself wishing for a stronger through-line to anchor the drama and deepen the stakes.
That said, González excels at atmosphere. Her sense of place is vivid, and the Brooklyn setting feels textured and alive. I also appreciated the cultural references and the diversity within the cast of characters.
While this one didn’t fully work for me, readers who enjoy character-driven stories centered on messy relationships and social circles may find more to connect with here.
Set in the spring of 2007, this novel follows a young woman navigating early adulthood while becoming entangled in the drama and unraveling of her glamorous Brooklyn neighbor and their inner circle. The premise immediately intrigued me, especially given González’s sharp observational voice.
Unfortunately, while the setup was compelling, the execution didn’t fully land for me. I struggled to connect with the characters, who often felt emotionally distant. Though there were flashes of complexity in their motivations and relationships, I never felt fully invested in their journeys.
The narrative also felt somewhat meandering. At times, it seemed unclear what the central arc was building toward, and the episodic structure made it difficult to sustain momentum. I found myself wishing for a stronger through-line to anchor the drama and deepen the stakes.
That said, González excels at atmosphere. Her sense of place is vivid, and the Brooklyn setting feels textured and alive. I also appreciated the cultural references and the diversity within the cast of characters.
While this one didn’t fully work for me, readers who enjoy character-driven stories centered on messy relationships and social circles may find more to connect with here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night in Brooklyn is set in 2007, which my brain wants to call 'just a couple years ago' but then I do the math and... yikes, it’s actually forever ago. There’s something weirdly comforting but also kind of unsettling about New York/Brooklyn stories from that era, because you totally recognize the world but you can also see how fast everything is about to change. The book follows Alicia, who is basically just trying to figure out what she wants from life, and then she gets tangled up with this larger-than-life designer (as one does), and then chaos ensues.
There are some genuinely funny lines in this book...Also, the random little advice tidbits sprinkled in? I found humanize the characters. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I kept having to rewind and relisten (I got the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for review), because I kept thinking I missed something. I didn’t. I think some parts just didn’t flow super well, kind of choppy, like I needed a little more glue between scenes. Still, it was entertaining! Probably a 3.5 for me, but I’ll round up to 4 because I felt compelled to finish it and needed to know what was going to happen, but I still wanted more? idk if that makes sense!
Thanks netgalley!
There are some genuinely funny lines in this book...Also, the random little advice tidbits sprinkled in? I found humanize the characters. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I kept having to rewind and relisten (I got the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for review), because I kept thinking I missed something. I didn’t. I think some parts just didn’t flow super well, kind of choppy, like I needed a little more glue between scenes. Still, it was entertaining! Probably a 3.5 for me, but I’ll round up to 4 because I felt compelled to finish it and needed to know what was going to happen, but I still wanted more? idk if that makes sense!
Thanks netgalley!
February 11, 2026
I received an advanced reader copy of Last Night in Brooklyn, and I truly wanted to love this one. The premise intrigued me, and I went in hoping to be pulled into a compelling, emotional story. Unfortunately, despite really trying to get into it, I found myself feeling confused more often than captivated.
At times, the storyline felt somewhat disconnected, and I struggled to see how certain pieces fit together. Instead of building momentum, the plot often felt like it was wandering, which made it hard for me to stay fully invested. I also had difficulty connecting with the characters. While they were complex, they weren’t particularly likable or relatable to me, and that made it challenging to care deeply about what happened to them.
There were several moments when the pacing felt slow, and I caught myself feeling like the story was dragging on rather than moving forward. I also felt that the author relied heavily on telling instead of showing. Rather than experiencing the emotions and tension through action and dialogue, I often felt like I was being informed about them, which left me more disinterested than immersed.
While I can see that other readers may appreciate the tone and style, this one just didn’t fully work for me. Sadly, this ends up being a two-star read for me.
At times, the storyline felt somewhat disconnected, and I struggled to see how certain pieces fit together. Instead of building momentum, the plot often felt like it was wandering, which made it hard for me to stay fully invested. I also had difficulty connecting with the characters. While they were complex, they weren’t particularly likable or relatable to me, and that made it challenging to care deeply about what happened to them.
There were several moments when the pacing felt slow, and I caught myself feeling like the story was dragging on rather than moving forward. I also felt that the author relied heavily on telling instead of showing. Rather than experiencing the emotions and tension through action and dialogue, I often felt like I was being informed about them, which left me more disinterested than immersed.
While I can see that other readers may appreciate the tone and style, this one just didn’t fully work for me. Sadly, this ends up being a two-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐️
Wow wow wow!! Another beautiful story by my fave author this year so far✨💐
It follows the life of our main character, Alicia in spanning early 2000s to 2007, where her and her friends navigate early adulthood in Brooklyn New York. I lovedddd the characterization in this book. Out of all of Xóchitl’s stories, this is one where there are many characters and each one has a well fleshed out personality and story to tell. No one in this book is absolutely perfect, hell at some point I kept screaming at my phone (cause I listened to the audiobook) for La Garza to RUN THE FUCK AWAY FROM DEVIN!!!!!! Urgh speaking of La Garza she reminds me so much of Anita Del monte (I love how I’m referencing other characters in the Xóchitl book universe loll) because they were both women who worked so hard to get to the level of prestige in their crafts and they both got entangled with cowardly men💔 I feel a major difference was La Garza was a lover girl fr 😭💗 The depth of each of the characters coupled with the more day in the life style writing makes this an instant top book for me!! I can’t wait till everyone gets their hands on this story (I highly recommend the audiobook!!!)✨
Pub Date: 21st April 2026!
Wow wow wow!! Another beautiful story by my fave author this year so far✨💐
It follows the life of our main character, Alicia in spanning early 2000s to 2007, where her and her friends navigate early adulthood in Brooklyn New York. I lovedddd the characterization in this book. Out of all of Xóchitl’s stories, this is one where there are many characters and each one has a well fleshed out personality and story to tell. No one in this book is absolutely perfect, hell at some point I kept screaming at my phone (cause I listened to the audiobook) for La Garza to RUN THE FUCK AWAY FROM DEVIN!!!!!! Urgh speaking of La Garza she reminds me so much of Anita Del monte (I love how I’m referencing other characters in the Xóchitl book universe loll) because they were both women who worked so hard to get to the level of prestige in their crafts and they both got entangled with cowardly men💔 I feel a major difference was La Garza was a lover girl fr 😭💗 The depth of each of the characters coupled with the more day in the life style writing makes this an instant top book for me!! I can’t wait till everyone gets their hands on this story (I highly recommend the audiobook!!!)✨
Pub Date: 21st April 2026!
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